Check Ride Philosophies and Practices

 

  
  As every Flight instructor has his or her different style of teaching, they also have their different  thoughts or expectations regarding what their students will be expected to know and do on the check ride.  This is then further complicated by each Examiner having their own interpretations of the check ride process.  I get many calls from instructors that do not know me, asking "what I want to see from their students" or "what is your style of check ride".   I would like to take this space to explain my personal philosophies about check rides and what an applicant can expect. 

It is clear that the check ride is based on the "Practical Test Standards" (PTS) for that rating.  The PTS not only covers the Areas of Operation it more importantly lists the references which the FAA expects the applicant to have learned the answers from or be consistent with.  Examiners are first and foremost expected to have a "Plan of Action" that follows the PTS.  I myself have my "Plans of Action" on my laptop and I use them as my "Guide" for the check ride.  I have included all of the references from each PTS into the various "Plans of Actions" as hyperlinks for easy reference.

Other than the FAA requiring the Examiner to follow the guidance of the PTS, there is no hard guidance on areas of student reference materials.  Meaning the degree of the check ride being "Open-Book" is not strictly specified and hence every examiner has a differing philosophy and in many cases it varies with the rating sought.

I personally feel the Check Ride is a PRACTICAL test and as such is not closed book and a test of memorization.  I feel it is more an evaluation of an applicant's resource utilization, management and correlation of information than how well they have memorized chart symbols.  I do not expect everything to be committed to memory, but I do expect them to know where to get the answers and to show they are able to get them, so looking up some information is fine.  Of course there are exceptions to this, such as spin recovery, I do not expect an applicant to reach in the back seat and start looking in the POH for the procedure, this they should know from memory or practice.  In general if applicants are safe and make good judgment decisions, they'll do fine on the check ride. 

Most check rides are 1.0 -1.5 hours Ground and 1.0 - 1.8 hours Flight depending on rating sought and  location.  If the Instructor is not available at the time the check ride is scheduled to begin, I am available prior to the check ride date to review applications and endorsements via e-mail or fax to minimize disappointing applicants due to errors in their paperwork.

I'd like to think of my "Style of Check Ride" is Practical and fair, I think of myself as being relaxed and understanding.

Tom Hornak

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